Decking system.



A. COPONY.

DECKlNG SYSTEM.

APPLICATION mio JULY 23.19l1.

1,254,312. Patented Jan. 2142, 1918.

sTATns Para ernten.

ALFRED CoroNY, oF'DETRoIT, MICHIGAN, AssIeNoR To CoPoNY AUTO-LOADING CoM- PANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

DECKING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 22, 1913.

Application filed July 23,1917. Serial No. 182,211.

, To' all whom it may concern.'

l f which the following is a specification,

Isa

vention contemplates an improved device reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. j

This invention relates to decking systems for loading automobiles 0r the like', and refers more particularly to an improved and simplified arrangement for decking automobiles one above another Ain freight cars `of the 'usual construction.

Among the objects of the` invention are to provide a construction which will support' an automobile in a position adjacent the top of the car so as to provide beneath this automobile sufficient clearance for placing a second vehicle or the"likeg to provide a construction which will have an effective bracing and in which the axle members of the automobile are so positioned with reference to the brace members as to transmit the stress longitudinally of such brace members; to provide a. construction which-can be made from standard sizes vof lumber if desired; and in general to provide an improved and simplified construction of the character referred to.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of two of the supporting frames;

Fig. 2 is la vertical transverse section through a freight car to which my invention is applied; l

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Describing in detail the particular em-v bodilnent of 4my invention shown in the drawings, A designates the Hoor of a freight car, B the top of the ear and C and C the sides of the freight car. In the shipping of automobiles, itA is'desirable to double deck the automobiles if possible, that is, to store one automobile above` the Vother so that where the freight car would normally receive three or four automobiles, it can, byV

the use of my invention, conveniently carry twice that number.

While means have been employed for supporting the automobiles and holding them from sidewise movement, the .present inwherein the axle members of the automobile are so positioned and arranged on the supporting frames as to-coperate in rigidly holding the automobile in place.

l In detail the supporting frames are arranged in pairs, the construction of each 'of which is as follows: Extending upwardly from a base cleat D is a diagonally arranged standard E which has itsupper end F spaced inwardly from the' side of the car. To this upper end there is fastened a cross member G and in turn there is secured to this cross member the inner ends H and I of diagonally-extending brace members H and I. The opposite ends of these brace members H and I are nailed or otherwise secured to the side of the car, and perferably located between cleats J and J" also secured to the side of the car.

Twoof these frames are employed at each 4end of the automobile, the frames of each pair `being arrangedin reverse position, as shown in Fig. l. The automobile to be supported adjacent the roof B of the car is placed so that each of its axle members rests upon the frame members and preferably in recesses L left between the spaced ends of the diagonal brace members. After the axle member has been placed in the recesses or grooves L, cleat members M and M are nailed down over theaXle member, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the automobile is locked in lfixed relation to the supporting frame. This interlocking arrangement between the axle member and the frame mem-v ber has a further advantage, 1n that, any.

stresses are transmitted longitudinally to the diagonal brace members H andl I of each of the frames.y vNot only does this produce a cheap and .effective bracing, but it allows suiiicient space for the storage of a' second automobile or the like beneath the one positioned on top of the frame members. Also owing to the diagonal arrangement of the members E, H and I with reference to the Hoor andsides of the car, a veryT effective triangular bracing is` maintained against movement in either the vertical or horizontal planes. j

\ Various changes in the details of construction and arrangements and combinat tions of parts can be made within the scope of my invention,

What I claim as my invention is h 1. In a decking system for automoblles or the like in freight ears, the combination with a brace member extending diagonally upward from the floor of the ear 'and in wardly from the side thereof. of a transverse brace member cooperatingwith said first-mentioned brace member. l

2. In a decking system for automobiles or 4the like-in freight ears, the combination with a brace member extending diagonally upward from the floor of the ear and inardly from the Side thereof, of brave members cooperating therewith and extending diagonally inward from the sides of the car.

3. In a decking system for automobiles or the like 1n freight ears:` the combination with a braee member extending .diagonally upward from the loorof the car and inwardly from the side thereof, of brace mem- Copies ot this patent may be obtained for wardly from the side thereof, of brace members coperating therewith and Aextending diagonally inward from the sides of the car and toward each other, the inner ends of said last-mentioned brace member being spaced from each other to provide a recess within which theaxle member of the automobile can be fastened.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signal ture.

ALFRED COPONY.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

